With the burning of the Wickerman and a sky full of exploding fire works, the Wickerman Festival came to an end for another year. The main contributing factors for a successful festival are good weather and good bands and with the Wickerman Festival ticking both boxes this year, it would been hard not to have had a great time.

Main Headliners were The Sissor Sisters and Texas who both put on great sets in their own unique style. Friday night saw The Sissor Sisters, Jake and Anna buzz with energy that was exhausting just to watch. To start with the Wickerman crowd seem momentarily caught in the headlights but then they get a huge musical wake up slap and they take off dancing and screaming and keep going until the lights went out and the last notes disappeared across the distant hills. Such a great show and a max sensory overload.

Texas is the perfect band for the last night of a festival. They are so loved by the Scottish crowd who know every lyric and with no prompting belt out all the songs along with Sharleen. Texas might not be cutting edge or charting at the moment, but folks have grown up with their songs and can relate to them and so get a huge kick from seeing them live at one of Scotland’s favorite festivals. And so it was time to reminisce with songs like “Black Eyed Boy” and “Summer Sun”.

Meanwhile in the Scooter tent space was at a huge premium as Bad Manners pulled in a massive crowd. If you saw a bit of Texas and wanted to catch Bad Manners then you were out of luck the tent bulging at the seams, Security stopped folks going in to see Buster and his band but you could just about get a view thorough the entrance the energy coming out was fantastic. Sporting a leopard skin outfit Buster looked supreme albeit slimmed down a tad and not quite as animated these days yet he was still every inch Buster Bloodvessel, master of Ska.

One of my favorite appearances was Duke Special (Peter Wilson) on the Summerisle stage on Saturday. I had never seen him perform live but his reputation preceded him and I was not disappointed. Although Peter’s looks are somewhat eye catching with dreadlocks and serious eyeliner, as soon as he sets foot on stage he connects with the audience in a warm and friendly way. 

He can be tricky though as half way thought his act he bounded off the stage and just went walkabout in the crowd. Also on stage with the quirkiest of drum kits was percussionist “Temperance Society” Chip Bailey who plays cheese graters and egg whisks, a bunch of door keys along with a Stumpf fiddle and a Shruti box, and a more typical drums and cymbal kit.Things got even better when Peter brought on Newton Faulkener  for a song, like I said you never know what is next with Duke Special. For Peter’s final song they produced a fantastic rendition of “Love will Tear us Apart”. You could have heard a pin drop during the song which is an impressive feat for a festival crowd but shows how appreciative the audience was.

Up at the Go North stage another fave Xavia were playing. I’m not sure why such a fine band

was in such a small venue as they have a huge Scottish following plus Charlie Lindsey, lead vocalist needs to command a larger stage.

Back in the Scooter tent a couple of classic punk bands from a dwindling generation but still promoting the punk message of anarchy and rock & roll. First up was Goldblade. By the time I got there the atmosphere was heady with sweat, drunks and rock & roll. Front man John Rob was topless and dripping head to waist in sweat. Reassuring to see he’s still sporting a Mohican these days. But this was more religious experience than musical outing. With John Rob leaning into the fans placing his hand on their heads and in a booming evangelical voice asking “Do you believe in Rock & Roll?” This was repeated until he got a suitable reply of a screaming yeeeeeeesssss! that he went back on stage to finish up. If any aspiring bands wanted a lesson in showmanship and energy then they need look no further.

Next up were Peter and the Test Tube Babies. Another original punk band still doing what they do best, bashing it out loud and furious. Peter hogging the stage, wearing a “Fuck you I do what I like” T-shirt summed up the gig with the occasional fan running on to join in the melee. Although there was the usual grizzled old punk fan-base it was pleasing to see a younger generation appreciating some punk royalty.

 Looking through the festival listings there are names of bands that just leap out from the page and one of those was Big Fat Panda. So off to the Scoooter tent I went were I caught the band mid act. There where certainly no pandas on show but there was an excellent ska band and the lead singer Big Andy was certainly big physically but his voice was impressively large as well. As ska bands go, six piece BFP had it all: great sound, great music and a great big Panda. Well sort of….

 And so as the Wickerman ashes are left to smolder for another year it was time to ponder on the highlights of the festival.

Fantastic sets from the Sissor Sisters, Texas, Kassidy and the View. Plus superb individual performances from Jake Bugg and Newton Faulkner. It also was great to see so many really talented new acts appearing which is what the Wickerman so perfect for. So now we look forward to next year when the Wickerman will rise from the ashes and lookout over another excellent and memorable festival.